Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-04-02

would not move until & given time he
would be released. As he readily agreed
TO the conditions the girl stole out into The
rassage, turned the key very softly, and
then flew back into her own room, which
she locked In hot haste. Here she knocked
on the inner door, and at tho appointed
sign heard the young man dash through
the corridor and down stairs There was
sound Of rafting glass, an alteration Of
voices pistol shot and then brief
period Of suspense, during which the
hearts of the two women stood still. Then
steps returned along tho passage, crossed
through the next room, and stopped be-
side the door Of communication, where u
rap fesounded.
miss Estabrooz, have come back"
said quiet voice.
"And the--the manYr asked Maud.
breathlessly.
"Oh, fancy HEN give yon no more
trouble Judging from the groan heard
as he beat retreat he won't feel in spirits
for any more of this business tonight
"We-we are very much obliged tc
you,h stammered Maud, rather at a loss
what to say under tho circumstances.
'Not at ali. 1t was pleasure to me.
He was infringing on my rights, you
know
Silence followed, broken by another rap.
''Miss Estabrook, am waiting TO DO
locked in again.
"Do you really mean''-- began Maud.
Certainly I must insist, II You please.
I'll stay here till you give me the wordn
"Be quick, Maud" whispered Mrs.
Estabreok very distrustful OF this ex-
traordinary burglar. "The man is either
n criminal or lunatic. Run and turn
the key, child, before he changes his
mind.n
Thus urged, the girl made another
sortie. Once more the key clicked Iii tho tho
lock, their prisoner was heard to cross tho
floor, and then all was silence again
Not for long, however. Suddenly there
was confused clamor at the outside
door, while the bell pealed loudly through
tho house. Maud and her mother sprang
up and faced each other
"Ihat man back againY' faltered Mrs.
Estabrook.
"Oh, mamma, moi" said Maud, rcas-
suringly. "a burglar would never ring
the bell. Why, it's Tomp' she cried,
with sudden conviction. 'It's my brother
come home" she repeated, as voice
from the next room was heard, with re-
GcNtN pIOiSIb VI u5slolttHCb.
Tom 1t was, indeed, and very anxious
about the safety of the household. As
/ the brother and sister met in the gray Of
the early dawn he hastily explained how,
having called in to see Amelia, she had
given him no peace until he promised to
Q return at once to The Willows; how he
had done so, in some vexaticn at what he
considered her business, until everything
lxy 1,xy Of f46
by the sight of blood stain ON the piazza
4 At which Maud shuddered, and was about
to relate her version Of the nights adj
! ventures when Mrs. Estabrooks voice
was heard in reproachful accents from
, above. They fastened up stairs, and
found the poor lady inclined to Mysteries
at being left alone She began an inco-
herent story, in which Peter and the
burglar were jumbled to Toms utter be.
4 wilderment.
a tBut who winged the burglar, then3'
he asked. "Was it you, MaudY"
! "Hush-shl' breathed his mother, with
warning finger appraised "He's in there,
! you know"
. 'In therei Why, thought you said he
Z was gomez And what ON earth is Peter ia
there forP'
''No, no, not Petcr, the-.the burg
] lar''---
|, '1'he burglarr' Tom jumped up lyon
don't mean you've trapped the fellows
BraYo" And he was hurrying to the
+ door, when his sister laid a hand on his
arm.
"Oh, wait, Tom, she said. ''That is
: the oldest part of it all. +" And she told
n the tale Of their strange guest. ut
i doesn't seem like his being burglar, but
: l. don't think he can be In his right
+ mind;" she concluded.
"By jovel / should say notl Wanted
to be locked up AGAIN. Why, the man
: must be first class crank. Well, III
have look at him. =
He left the room, and the two women
heard the key turn in the lock. They held
. their breath to listen, but all they could
distinguish in the next room was con-
fused sound of voices and laughter.
= Presently Tom came back, accompanied
: by the suggestions burglar.
'tMy mother and sister, Mr.. Folliott, y
:, said Tom, with wave of tho hand and a
twinkle Of the eye, Smother, this Is my
!, friend Mr.. Folliott, who seems to think
there is some mystery that needs clearing
> up"
:, The real burglar was never found
Therefore Tom EstabrooI was unable tc
+, settle the question If that suspicious
stranger resembled Mr.. Marston Folliott
/ in anything beyond the scar. Even that
y !, had nearly disappeared before Mr.. Folliott
left The Willows, SO that when Amelia
: first saw her future brother-in-law she
!, gravely remarked that she could moi
\ imagine how mamma and Maud could
, have made such singular mistake. She
was sure she never could. Which, from
the cause of the whole misunderstanding
was certainly rather trying. But ther
Amelia was trying sometimes, as people
without sense of humor are apt to be-
Kate Putnum Osgood in Harper's Bazaar
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ToCan'a lava s.f Enucl.ia noxwu